Automatic switch.



I J. "T, DE MOSS.- AUTOMATIC swncn. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1909.

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J, T. DE MOSS. AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Arrm'ouxon FILED urns. 1909.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. DE MOSS, OF THORNTON, WESTyIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES QUINTER REED, NEWBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Ma 4, 1909.

Application filed- January 18, 1909. Serial No. 472,886.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN T. DE Moss, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Thornton, in the county of Taylor and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway systems, and has particular reference to automatic means for throwing switch points while the car or train is in motion. V

The invention consists of. certain specific novel features of construction to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of main track and switch, equipped with the invention, and also showing a fragment of a car approaching the switch; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the principal parts of the mechanism for throwing the switch in one direction; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the actuator and o erating means therefor carried ig. 4 is a front elevation of the same mechanism as indicated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and Figs. 6, and 7 are modifications of certain parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Making specific reference to illustrations of the invention, 10 indicates a main line of a railway, 11 indicates a side track, and 12 the usual movable switch oints. In devices of this nature it has been found desirable toprovide means carried by the car whereby the switch points may be thrown'to changethe switch, without requiring the conductor or motorman to leave his car for the purpose of changing the switch. Again, it is lmportant that means be provided whereby the switch will be restored to its original position after movement of the car upon the side track also by automatic means. In carrying out the foregoing requirements a bar 13 is pivotally connected to the switch points 12', and connected to one end thereof is a bell crank 14 pivoted at 14. Another bellcrank 15 mounted on a horizontal pivot 15 is located in advance of the aforesaid bell crank and is .u on the side track 11.

connected thereto by a pull rod 16, of any suitable length. A rock shaft 17 is journaled in suitable bearings, preferably below the rails of the track and rigidly connected theretois a yoke 18, the main portion of which lies in a vertical plane and which is provided with laterally extending wings 18. Also rigidly connected to the shaft 17 is an arm 19, projecting forwardly or toward the switch therefrom and connected by a link 20 to the aforesaid bell crank 15. Pivotally mounted on the inner end of the rock shaft 17 is a contact finger 21, to which are connected oppositely extending bolts22, the latter extending through apertures in the wings 18 The outer endsof the bolts are headed, and located between the heads and the outer faces of the wings are cushioning springs 23.. The foregoing mechanism projects above the surface of the street and rails and is preferably protected from damage bypassing vehicles y a cap 24 consisting of a substantially vertical web and an overhanging 24, the edge of which is preferab y at 24.

Mounted upon the car platform 25 and preferably j ournaled in bearings beneath the same is a rock shaft 26 to which are connected arms 27 and 28 and an actuator 29. The arm 27 has linked connection to a foot piece 30, whereby the motorman may depress the same and rotate'the rock shaft against the tension of a spring 31 connected to the arm 28. Upon such operation of the foot piece 30 the actuator 29 will be lowered so as to cause the outer beveled end 29 thereof to engage the beveled surface 24 of'the guard 24 and causing the actuator to pass beneath member beveled the overhang 24 into engagement with the contact finger 21. The actuator 29 is normally held elevated by a spring 31 and un less depressed would pass over the top of the guard 24, having no effect upon the switch operating device. The impact of the actuator against the contact finger21 is cushioned by virtue of the springs 23, and the impulse is communicated through said springs and yoke 18 to the rock shaft 17 resulting in a pull on the pull rod 16 andthe throwing of the switch points to the left as indicated in Fig. 1 so that the approaching car will ass It being desire for t e motorman to restore the switch to the original position, he will again depress the foot piece 30 as he approaches a second contact finger 21, having similar relation to operating devices as does the contact finger 21 to the above described aerating device, except that the arm 19 in t e latter instance is mounted in the reverse direction, causing a forward pull on the pull rod 16, connected to a bell crank 32 connected to the opposite end of the bar 13, from that to which the bell crank 14 is connected.

In some instances it may be preferred to sim lify the operating devices in substantia'lFy the manner indicated in Fig. 6. In this arrangement the contact finger 21 is pivoted intermediate 01 its ends at 33, and While being adapted to be operated in the same manner by the actuator above described, its lower end may be connected directly to the pull rod 16. Or, as indicated in Fig. 7, the yoke 18 may be provided with a downwardly projecting extension 18 for direct connection with the pull rod 16.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character set forth,

' the combination with a main line, side track,

and movable switch points, of automatic mechanism for throwing the switch points including a bar connected to the switch points, a bell crank connected to said bar, a pullerod connected to the bell crank, a pivoted contact finger, connections between the contact finger and the pull rod, a guard substantially inclosing the contact finger having an overhang with a beveled edge, an actuator having a beveled end, means to de )ress the actuator to cause the beveled end thereof to pass beneath the overhang for operation of the contact finger and the parts having connection therewith.

2. In an automatic switch thrower, the combination with the movable switch )oints, of a bar connected thereto, a bell cralik connected to the bar, a pull rod connected to the bell crank, a rock shalt, a vertical yoke connected to the rock shaft and having laterally extending wings, a contact finger disposed between said wings and pivoted upon the rock shaft, a pair of headed bolts extending through said wings and pivotally connected to the contact finger, cushioning means between the heads of the bolts and the outer face of the wings, connections between the rock shaft and the aforesaid pull rod, and means carried by the car to engage and opera'te the rock shalt through the contact finger.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JOHN T. DE MOSS. IVitnesses ALLEN DEMOSS, ROBERT T. TRAVIS. 

